Annual Reports

“Moving in the Spirit molded me into a mature young person. They gave me that inner strength to communicate not only with respect, but with seriousness and assertiveness. Moving in the Spirit raised me, and I would not be the leader I am today without them.” – Tenesia Benson, alumna, ’11

“We are a family.” We hear this declaration often at Moving in the Spirit. It’s expressed by students when their peers give them encouragement during a particularly hard time. It’s voiced by parents when they form unexpected friendships while waiting for their children to finish class. It’s revealed by alumni who have forged lifelong bonds and now watch their own children dance together.

“When people see a rose growing through a crack in the concrete, their instinct is to pluck it, take it away from its harsh environment, and place it somewhere more beautiful. We see ourselves as concrete roses. We managed to bloom in difficult urban neighborhoods, but we don’t want to leave our communities behind. Our successes are not truly successes unless we use them to give back.” – Andrea Lewis, Moving in the Spirit alumna

This past year, Moving in the Spirit celebrated our 25th year transforming lives through dance. We say ‘transform’ because Moving in the Spirit pushes young people to re-imagine themselves, to rise above the challenges around them as they look forward to where they want to be. With your help, thousands of children have discovered their inner strength, confidence and values, succeeding beyond the stage to make an impact in their own communities.

Our work together has created measurable, positive change for hundreds of young people, helping them overcome obstacles, find their voices, and realize their highest potential. Thank you for the love, support and faith you have offered us year after year. We are honored to celebrate our 25th season with you, and look forward to continuing our vital work for another 25 years and beyond.

Publications by Category

Our Mission

Moving in the Spirit is an award-winning creative youth development program. We use the discipline of dance to help children and teens develop the social, emotional and cognitive skills they need to thrive.